32 Winchester Special mould.

[Catshooter]

I'm helping a buddy get set up to cast for his 94 in this caliber. I've never cast for this caliber and the rifle isn't to hand so . . . help?

What would be nominal bore size?

I like the Lyman 311 041, did they ever make a similar boolit for the 32?

Am I correct in thinking that we can make brass from 30-30 brass?

Thanks.


Cat

[Dutchman]

I shoot the .323" version of this bullet in 8x57 Mauser with excellent
results. The .32 Winchester Special version is .321", which is the
correct diameter (typically).

http://gardnerscache.com/32win_spl_170_lfp_g_c.html


Dutch

[leadman]

You can use 30-30 brass but it will have the incorrect head stamp with an oversized bullet for a 30-30. It is difficult to tell the 30-30 and 32 special apart unless they are side by side. I do use improperly head stamped brass but in this case it might be such a good idea unless you obscure the original stamping. I have used an electric engraver to do this.

[Rich/WIS]

Easiest way if using both 30/30 and 32 Special is segregate cases by head stamp, use one brand for 30/30 and a different brand for reformed 32 Special. I do this now for cast versus jacketed brass for my 06 and 243.

[georgerkahn]

"The" .32 Winchester Special boolit, so I have been told, is the ubiquitous Ideal or Lyman 321297. I have one of each, and my only regret is they're both single cavity -- but, if you can find one, it may be worth the wait. I bought a Lyman 321232, a FNGC boolit which drops 168gr slugs, which works OK, too. RCBS offers their 32-170 which drops FNGC 170 grain boolits as well. Also, if you can find one, Winchester made a series of wood-handles single cavity moulds in most of their offerings (.25-20; .30WCF, .38-40; .32WCF; .38-55; etc.) as well as the .32 Winchester Special. I have not used mine, so I can't comment on it.
Re bore size, I size mine to 0.321". HOWEVER, 'tis nor unwise to slug YOUR barrel, and take it from there. I have two .32WS's, and .321 seems to function in both.
I once almost "stole" a rifle a friend asked me to check out as his "30-30" wouldn't hit a barn at fifty feet. Turns out, which took me but seconds to notice, he was shooting .30-30 bullets in his rifle which had been chambered for the .32 Winchester Special! (Being honest, I advised, and that's last I saw of this firearm :( ). VERY easy to miss-them up (sic) -- I used Dykem lay-out fluid on the head of my converted .30WCF cases when I expand and load the .32WS boolits in them. Also, if you have the means, I do recommend annealing your cases. Mine seem to get "old" in very few firings...
BEST! The .32WS has had a LOT of bad press -- but, I'm one who like it! I'm sure, with care in loading, you will as well!
BEST!
george

[shaggybull]

I have some brass if you need some...not many. I have grandson sorting brass and know there is some in the mix. If you want them drop me a pm.

[TXGunNut]

I like the RD 323-170 (180) but in my older 32's the throat is a bit tight for the RD boolit's fat ogive. I've found Accurate's 322-170a is a good fit for my older (1921 and 1957) 94's.

[catskinner]

The Lyman 321297 is a good one for the 32 WS but the one I had had a seriously undersize nose. Not all are that way since a friend has one that casts a big enough nose to ride the lands. The RCBS 32-170-FN has a good reputation but I have not used it. My favorite.is an Old West 323-189-GC which is a good deer thumper. The Winchester mold marked 32WS is a good plain base bullet but high priced if you find one.

[richhodg66]

The 3212332 plain based bullet is great for plinking loads in my Marlin. I use the NOE 325-180 FP for deer hunting, worked great on a small doe this year. I size all mine to .323.

I have a 321297 mold somewhere, it seems there was a problem with how it fed in my rifle, but I don't remember right now, maybe I need to try it again.

[Catshooter]

Ah, thank you gentlemen. That is the very helpful data I needed. Now I'll start acquiring.


Cat

[frnkeore]

There are a couple of other bullets that you might try. The Lyman 323470, is a Loverin GC style bullet that will weight about 160+ gr. I shot it in a 336 Marlin and it gave good accuracy with RL7.

If your patient and can find the 321295 (321297 also) on Ebay, it's a 175 gr GC and made for the 32/40 - 32WS.

Frank

[Nowherefound]

Well I am a little late to this party so I will pretty much just echo what others have said. When I started loading for 32ws I was using what I had for 8mm which meant the 323470 Loverin. I sized them to .323 as my barrel slugged .322. That bullet did just fine with all of my early testing but then I lucked out on the RCBS 32-170 mold (threw out a low bit on the bay and ended up winning.) Since then Its all I have been shooting in both light loads with shotgun powders and heavier loads with rifle powders. I'll toss up a picture below of them side by side. As for the brass, all I have ever used is 30-30 brass that I have necked up in my dies. No problems with it and I can really stock up if I hit the range in the weeks before hunting season opens and "clean up" after my fellow shooters. Whatever route your buddy goes he will probably love that rifle. I started out reloading for mine because I had 30-30 brass laying around and figured why not, now it is one of my favorite shooters and accompanies me to the range almost every trip.
http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p773/centurioncs/Shooting/Reloading/IMG_20150723_2040269_rewind_zpsyqgocgac.jpg (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/centurioncs/media/Shooting/Reloading/IMG_20150723_2040269_rewind_zpsyqgocgac.jpg.html)

[RU shooter]

You may need a bigger dia. If your barrel is well worn like my 1928 vintage win 32 mine won't shoot the standard .322 size except at low speed I have to use .324 at full power . Another option would be buy some already cast . I ordered some From midway for xmass from hunter supply bullets it's a close copy of the rcbs bullet they offer two sizes .322 and .324 cast of Lyman #2 they claim

[bruce drake]

For my 1935-made Winchester 94 in 32 Win, I found that Lee's standard 8mm boolit mold in 170gr makes for a nice bullet and literally casts out at .323 for a perfect fit. Its a great bullet to start the reloading of the rifle with without breaking the bank or constantly hunting for a discontinued Lyman or Ideal mold. I've since modified one of these molds to cast a flatbase 175gr bullet that is just perfect for plinking practice out to 100yards without the need of putting a gascheck on it.

Bruce

[waco]

Accurate molds will cut ANYTHING you want, to your specs, with your alloy. Win, win, win.......

[turtlezx]

Iam with bruce 8mm lee mold shoot as cast

[pcmacd]

You just mark the base by scribbling out the "30-30" with an electro pencil.

Not rocket science.

[pcmacd]

For my 1935-made Winchester 94 in 32 Win, I found that Lee's standard 8mm boolit mold in 170gr makes for a nice bullet and literally casts out at .323 for a perfect fit. Its a great bullet to start the reloading of the rifle with without breaking the bank or constantly hunting for a discontinued Lyman or Ideal mold. I've since modified one of these molds to cast a flatbase 175gr bullet that is just perfect for plinking practice out to 100yards without the need of putting a gascheck on it.

Bruce

_EXACTLY_ which LEE mold are you referring to here?

The LEE 90274 is 175 nominal grains, and a round nose, not particularly appropriate for a Winchester '94?